The 'studio live' light was on at Norwich's Epic Studios afternoon as some young disadvantaged and disabled people got to grips with the thrills and spills of live television.

Young people from Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex have been making a series of short films about issues that affect them and even got to screen them to the whole world.

Their 'Mix It Up' show was screened on the internet via the UK's first internet television station run by and for young people with disabilities, Funky Flamingo TV.

The Inspire media project was funded by Media Box and the Big Lottery Fund.

The youngsters learned different techniques such as presenting, filming and working with blue screen technology at the former Anglia TV studios on Magdalen Street throughout last week, before putting what they had learnt to the test.

Three students from Norwich's Parkside School took part in the project. They made a short film about healthy eating based on Simon Pegg's cult comedy Hot Fuzz, called Hot Fruit and Veg.

Jason Britten, 15, from North Walsham, seemed to have found a new home in front of the camera, discovering a new confidence from performing.

He said: 'I've been doing quite a lot of camera work and been switching between the autocue and presenting, which I think I'm quite good at.

'I was slightly nervous about the live broadcast, but also excited, I couldn't tell which. My ambition now is to be a presenter on television.'

Kieran Gibbs, 15, from Mattishall, near Dereham, said: 'It's been really cool. We've done set design, camera work, I was the presenter one day and I was the director as well.

'Our film is to do with keeping healthy and getting people to eat more fruit and veg. I was a pea in the film in front of the blue screen, and did the voiceover as well. It's been the best thing I've done.'

Laura Lewis, 16, from Caister-on-Sea, said: 'I liked doing the weather because there was not really a weather map there, it was a blue screen.

'I would really like to do that for a career. I've really enjoyed it.'

Co-ordinator of the project Jean Hogg has been pleased with how successful the six-month project has been. She said: 'It's been really good and the kids have really enjoyed it.'

Are you involved in an unusual learning project? Contact reporter David Freezer on 01603 772418 or email david.freezer@archant.co.uk